A Round of Robins

* “Hesterman fills her jaunty rhyming verses with numerous puns and alliterations, while conjuring up sweet yet mostly factual vignettes of the birds’ journey to maturity. Ruzzier’s cartoon illustrations capture these scenes of avian domesticity with just the right mix of humor and warmth, hilariously expressive feathered protagonists (and their grumpy neighbors) inhabiting his slightly fantastical idiosyncratic flora, all colored in ethereal watercolor washes. An utterly charming choice for most collections, perfect for one-on-one and small group -sharing.”—School Library Journal, starred review

* “Hesterman debuts with 16 poems that lightheartedly chart the development of a family of robins. . . . A perfect fit for Ruzzier’s gently surreal brand of cartooning. . . . It’s a charmer of an animal family story, with rhymes that are a pleasure to read aloud.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “Factual and funny. . . . Hesterman’s poems are brief and very easy to read, with little jokes but also using correct terminology. . . . Ruzzier’s pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures build on the signature orange of a robin’s breast, extending that color to tree limbs and hills; his robins feature correct bird anatomy but add ways of standing and angling their wings that are comically reminiscent of humans. Individual poems stand alone, but the book is also short and lively enough for a full read-through.”—The Horn Book, starred review

“Punchy poems that beg to be read aloud follow a pair of robins through parenthood. . . . Hesterman alternates solid vocabulary—‘lair,’ ‘clutch,’ ‘slumber,’ ‘fledgling’—with delightful made-up words. . . . Rhymes and rhythms are spot-on and will hold rapt both lap readers and storytime audiences, the onomatopoeia adding to the fun. . . . Ruzzier’s pen-and-ink-and watercolor illustrations show cartoon robins with anthropomorphic poses and facial expressions in a habitat that seems a combination of Dr. Seuss and the scenery from Road Runner. An enjoyably rhythmic slice of robin life for young naturalists and bird-watchers.”—Kirkus Reviews

“With colorful, cartoon art and playful rhymes, these 16 poems present various stages of a robin’s life. . . . Watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations depict the expressive robins along with other birds, insects, and a rabbit, all in a sparse, vaguely Seussian landscape. Periodic sound-effect asides enliven the text. . . . The read-aloud friendly text and classroom-friendly subject matter make this a nice choice for a springtime story hour.”—Booklist